Surely ,the new models which were made in 2017-18 will get outdated really soon in terms of design,but the old 2000s models still looks modern ,let it be even 2040
I own one of theses, and is absolutely is a phenomenal as everyone claims. The combination of performance, looks, luxury, and current price is pretty much impossible to match. Maintenance can be a bit of a bear at times, but honestly, every single time I get it fixed or fix it myself, I remember on the next drive why I love it so much. This car is one of the BMWs that defines the ultimate driving machine.
///AMG & Porsche I drive a 2001 E39 525d sedan tuned to little bit more power than a 530d: 195hp and 430Nm. It also has sport seats and widescreen navigation. I just love it! The comfort, the pull of a powerful 6 pot diesel and the way it drives. Just wish it was a 3.0 station wagon with M package though... maybe in future ;)
I have a 97' 540i and love driving it. It has 160k miles on it but needs some work. Suspension bushings, cruise control actuator, A/C service or repair, oil leaks fixed, dash pixels fixed, O2 sensors and cats replaced, headlight assemblies clouded on the inside, and a few bits on the interior are aging. Overall the exterior, paint, and interior are superb. Zero rust, Alpine White, all original e39. Great car but just not sure it is worth fixing. Sure beats the cost of a new one. Except for a new battery this month, I have spent nothing on the car for 6 years since I bought a new sedan in 2015. Just drive it on short trips to keep everything lubricated. It's like a jewel in the garage waiting.
Id pop that V10 inside an e39, and that would make it my dream car :D That V10 is seriously awesome, but e60 body is, well, a bit like nissan juke. e39 is just so much more beautiful and refined.
+tavi921 Well that's a matter of opinion, but the realities of the car industry today, are quite at odds with the ideals that made BMW great. You'll never see a current BMW - save for something like an i8, that compares favorably in the areas that BMW built it's reputation on. Or E39 vs E60 for example, that should tell you something. The E60 was most definitely designed with a different focus, electronic nannies and gadgets over good old fashioned dynamics. In fact, due in large part to safety regulation, there was a major shift in that direction from every car born from the early-2000's that continues to this day, the E39 having it's roots in the late-90's. The E60 was much less a driver's car, resorting to phony boloney active and variable ratio steering, which act only as a filter to an honest driving experience. Even going so far as to pump artificial engine sounds from the stereo speakers. But the electronics make drivers look better than they are, and save ones who can't drive at all, so they have to build cars to meet that demand.
I've owned an E21, E28, E30. E36 and E39. I just love them all. Just gorgeous...I think my E28 is my favorite in terms of looks. My M3 E36 is the most fun to drive and the E30 is the most remarkable platform. My E39 M5 is a sexy beast.....
$70k was a chunk of change 20 years ago. Really nothing like a high-revving V8. I almost got a 540i back in the day. Now have an E550 with the n/a 5.4L and 400 Pferde. Plenty stark.
What a car. Between the luxury, sportiness/performance and its killer good looks the E39 M5 is and always will be a true automotive masterpiece. Whenever I get sick of seeing reviews of heavy and disconnected modern cars that only have high horsepower figures to boast, it brings a smile to my face to watch this review of one of the last great analog, and driver focused cars. John Davis was wrong; time has revealed that the BMW M5 won't be the best sports sedan forever. But it has also shown that the E39 M5 was, and still is the best sports sedan ever. By providing a seemingly forgotten "pure" driving experience, the E39 M5 has cemented itself as a true legend.
FINALLY!! The E39 chassis is one of the best BMWs ever made...one of the best cars ever made. I think its the best 5 series ever as well! I'm proud to own one
Arguably one of the greatest sports sedans in the history of sports sedans, not to mention the greatest looking BMW platform ever. Would LOVE to own one stock.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz didn’t figure out that they were undercharging their customers for the M5 and E63 until about 10 years ago when they started charging about $120,000 - $145,000 for them like they do today. These high performance German luxury sedans are truly something special. I wish I could own one.
Although I'm an Audi guy through and through, I totally agree. The E39 is by far the best what BMW has built. I owned an E39 535i and even that one was exceptionally good.
@@eustahijelifetips No, the last 3,5L I6 was in the E34 and E28. After that only 3,0L I6 no matter the name. The 3,5L V8 was also used in the E38. The E34 had the 540 which actually was a 4,0L V8 which became the future 540 with 4,4L but the same hp output. The 3,6L V8 from the Audi V8 had a little more power than the 3,5L BMW and the 3,7L Audi engine topped out at 250PS
Used to see so many of these in my neighbourhood. Not all M5 but I remember thinking they were a perfect size. The one after this just looked too big. This one was tight.
I have a 5 series E39 (not M5 unfortunately, but a 2 liter 520 I6 Euro Version) and when I am thinking of selling it because of the high fuel prices in my country, when I am riding I am changing my mind. I have this car since 2006, bought it as a used vehicle and I enjoy riding, either in short or long distance trips!!!It runs smoothly even after 220000 kilometers (136.000 miles more or less) The chassis in this series was one of the best back in its day. This series also is still very cool in terms of its shape. Looks modern even with todays standards.
My friend used to own one of those and sometimes I used to drive it for me personally one of the best cars ever made still a benchmark sedan for today's standards 13 .2 on a quarter mile!!!! 10 out of 10
Amazing the tech in this powertrain 18 years ago. Now the Ford Coyote is making around the same hp numbers and the Coyote numbers are quite respectable for today
Yup, had a 2000 528i and the ONLY fault it ever had was the cupholder broke when a friend spilled coffee in it. Just weird. Insane car, and that was with only 193 hp
I'm a big fan of practicality. This car was it. You can cruise with 4 other people, just enough cargo space, and just enough power to have lots of fun.
Jesus if only I’d been smart enough to have picked one of these up before the prices began to rise quickly. E39s are amazing vehicles and that V8 is one of a kind but the prices are really going up.
It's crazy how the closing line says it's possibly the best car, ever. Now, 17years later you hear that argument still. It's like BMW's peak with the E39 and E46 is unreachable again and all new generations are just pulling away from the sweet spot.
That music! So 2000. And I still want one of these cars so bad! But please post some other reviews besides BMW. Or just post them all like bajabusta used to do!
I LOVE this series, it's fun looking back at the reviews of when these cars were new. But, Motorweek, please stop with the BMW's for a while! I am so BMW'd out it's not even funny. I like BMW's but all these BMW reviews at the same time is just too much.
This was posted a year a go. At a time when Motorweek went nearly a full month of posting only BMW reviews. I love BMW, but at the time I was very much bored with just the BMW videos. I was giving them my feed back at the time because I didn't want to get bored with the channel. Just my fair and honest opinion. As a guy commenting on a post made nearly a year ago, at a time when you clearly weren't around to appreciate how repetitive the content was, you seem to be the one lost.
Anybody realize the video is 5 minutes and 39 seconds!!!! 5 series BMW E39
Mr. T hahahaha no that escaped me but your completely rite 😂
Damned conspiracy theorists......lol
Obligatory “illuminate confirmed” comment.
'E' is the 5th letter of the alphabet......
ILLUMINATI! 😱
"the only transmission offered is the manual"
Those were good days.
15 years later and this car still looks sharp and modern looking.
Yup
jflow08 and performs admirably today
jflow08
oh dear, rave music🙈
Top Ten all time design.
Surely ,the new models which were made in 2017-18 will get outdated really soon in terms of design,but the old 2000s models still looks modern ,let it be even 2040
Hands down, the E39 M5 was the best M5 ever made. That is because hands down, the E39 5 series was the best 5 series ever made.
22 years later this car still looks great
John: "Is this new generation M5 still the sports sedan to beat?"
*Music starts*
Singer: "No!"
A little harsh lol!
LOL
I own one of theses, and is absolutely is a phenomenal as everyone claims. The combination of performance, looks, luxury, and current price is pretty much impossible to match.
Maintenance can be a bit of a bear at times, but honestly, every single time I get it fixed or fix it myself, I remember on the next drive why I love it so much. This car is one of the BMWs that defines the ultimate driving machine.
This is THE pinnacle of BMW, the e39 M5. BMW has never made such a perfect sport sedan since.
could not agree more. Still highly slept on to boot.
This car was FAST for its time and still holds its own today. Also one of the cleanest, best looking sedans maybe ever.
The best sedan BMW ever made 😢
proud owner of my E39!
E39ENTHUSIAST 90 E39 are my alltime favorite cars i drive an 528i sedan what about you guys? :-)
///AMG & Porsche I also drive a '99 528i. You can check my YTube channel. Indeed best sedan BMW ever made! ;)
///AMG & Porsche I drive a 2001 E39 525d sedan tuned to little bit more power than a 530d: 195hp and 430Nm. It also has sport seats and widescreen navigation. I just love it! The comfort, the pull of a powerful 6 pot diesel and the way it drives. Just wish it was a 3.0 station wagon with M package though... maybe in future ;)
i have a 2001 540i sportwagon
rarer than a bugatti veyron, and better to drive too :D
It is so beautiful. Anybody remember when BMW didn't need technology getting in the way of driving?
wow, only took 95 feet to slow down from 60mph, that's incredible.
Beat me to it, that's modern performance car braking performance... i.e. 2013 M5 takes 108 feet
This was my favorite car on Need For Speed High Stakes.
Me too, I played the crap out of that game the M5 was my favorite I loved the way it looked
Lol. Those were the days.
Likewise! I now own one!!
///Mthusiast congrats love it.
That's a classic childhood game lol I still jam the music from it
20 years later, this is still the best sports sedan ever made.
What a fantastic car. I still consider the E39 'modern', and it's hard to believe here we are in 2016, this car is 16 years old!!
yup,amazing isnt it. :)
The original design is from 1995 imagine that
'18 now still looks good
I’m from future in 2020 and the car still looks good.
Beautiful... E39 is the most beautiful BMW 5 series
Miguel Gonzalez +10000000000000000000000 it's just perfect.
+Miguel Gonzalez E28 is the most beautiful M5
+Miguel Gonzalez E34 first, E39 close second
yepp the e28 M5 is an icon :) ilove that one the most ♥
E34 is better, classic look.
Can't hear ya John, too much late 90s electronic pop!
I have a 97' 540i and love driving it. It has 160k miles on it but needs some work. Suspension bushings, cruise control actuator, A/C service or repair, oil leaks fixed, dash pixels fixed, O2 sensors and cats replaced, headlight assemblies clouded on the inside, and a few bits on the interior are aging. Overall the exterior, paint, and interior are superb. Zero rust, Alpine White, all original e39. Great car but just not sure it is worth fixing. Sure beats the cost of a new one. Except for a new battery this month, I have spent nothing on the car for 6 years since I bought a new sedan in 2015. Just drive it on short trips to keep everything lubricated. It's like a jewel in the garage waiting.
Over 2 decades later and still the best M5 to date.
Not sure if this is bold statement, but
I'd take this gen of M5 over the V10 generation.
acronus it's not just you buddy ;) E60 is hideous
Id pop that V10 inside an e39, and that would make it my dream car :D That V10 is seriously awesome, but e60 body is, well, a bit like nissan juke. e39 is just so much more beautiful and refined.
Yes, until you give me the wagon.
The V8 from E39 M5 is better. V10 has same torque just 100 more hp but who cares the V8 sounds 100x better.
omfgwtfbbq90 idk man that v10 sounds fuckin pissed lol
the literal goat of automobiles. if you never been in one you are missing out on the best build quality in a machine ever!
Well put!
Yup the best sport sedan forever! the truth has been spoken.
This is still the M car to beat 15 years later. Its like BMW keeps trying to aspire to this but cant seem to hit the mark
+EJisthecatalist The E60 wasn't a worse car than the E39.
+tavi921 Well that's a matter of opinion, but the realities of the car industry today, are quite at odds with the ideals that made BMW great. You'll never see a current BMW - save for something like an i8, that compares favorably in the areas that BMW built it's reputation on. Or E39 vs E60 for example, that should tell you something.
The E60 was most definitely designed with a different focus, electronic nannies and gadgets over good old fashioned dynamics. In fact, due in large part to safety regulation, there was a major shift in that direction from every car born from the early-2000's that continues to this day, the E39 having it's roots in the late-90's.
The E60 was much less a driver's car, resorting to phony boloney active and variable ratio steering, which act only as a filter to an honest driving experience. Even going so far as to pump artificial engine sounds from the stereo speakers. But the electronics make drivers look better than they are, and save ones who can't drive at all, so they have to build cars to meet that demand.
It will never be the same. There are too many restrictions these days with competition, money, fuel economy, luxury comfort etc.
@@buca9696 sorry for being late but hell yes it was lmao
BMW was kicking buts in the late 90's and early 2000's , E46 and E39 are the best M series BMW will ever make!
Seems like Y2K was recently, so hard to believe it was 15 years ago!! I laughed at that vintage nav system lol...still a classic nonetheless
2018 and it's still the #1 BMW on the road... love this car
HIs words in the end "forever" and he was spot on this is still the best and most desirable M5 even today.
such a beautiful car.. truly a classic example of BMW precision
One of my all time favorite sedans ever since it came out... Can't believe it's been 20 years!!!
Gotta love the early 2000s tech trance music.
Wow that forever statement actually kind of came true.
I've owned an E21, E28, E30. E36 and E39. I just love them all. Just gorgeous...I think my E28 is my favorite in terms of looks. My M3 E36 is the most fun to drive and the E30 is the most remarkable platform. My E39 M5 is a sexy beast.....
omg, the music is louder than his voice, must have been his favorite track
It’s fun watching these older clips!
"...the best sports sedan now, and maybe even forever."
eerie foreshadowing!
$70k was a chunk of change 20 years ago. Really nothing like a high-revving V8. I almost got a 540i back in the day. Now have an E550 with the n/a 5.4L and 400 Pferde. Plenty stark.
The best BMW ever. Timeless .
One of my favorite bimmers, one of the best looking cars ever made
Better than the overteched disgrace that passes for an M5 now
What a car. Between the luxury, sportiness/performance and its killer good looks the E39 M5 is and always will be a true automotive masterpiece. Whenever I get sick of seeing reviews of heavy and disconnected modern cars that only have high horsepower figures to boast, it brings a smile to my face to watch this review of one of the last great analog, and driver focused cars. John Davis was wrong; time has revealed that the BMW M5 won't be the best sports sedan forever. But it has also shown that the E39 M5 was, and still is the best sports sedan ever. By providing a seemingly forgotten "pure" driving experience, the E39 M5 has cemented itself as a true legend.
FINALLY!! The E39 chassis is one of the best BMWs ever made...one of the best cars ever made. I think its the best 5 series ever as well! I'm proud to own one
Arguably one of the greatest sports sedans in the history of sports sedans, not to mention the greatest looking BMW platform ever. Would LOVE to own one stock.
"The new M5 out handles anything short of an open wheel racer".
~John Davis
Out brakes them too, John. As 60mph-0 in 95ft is quite impressive.
It has been a while since I've seen a video that screams 2000 as hard as this.
Back when BMW still made pure driver’s cars
Really, to me these retro reviews are a gold mine! Awsome
“Maybe even forever”
Facts.
BMW and Mercedes-Benz didn’t figure out that they were undercharging their customers for the M5 and E63 until about 10 years ago when they started charging about $120,000 - $145,000 for them like they do today. These high performance German luxury sedans are truly something special. I wish I could own one.
Greatest 5-series BMW ever built.
I remember this for NFS:HS and the music matches it!.
Finally a E39! Thank you for posting, proud owner of my E39 528i still today!
This is still the best ever BMW M5 in 2017...👍....it looks amazing, plenty of power 400 bhp...and performance to match, great handling! Perfect..!!!😀👌
The last year of this great car before they "Bangled" it...
still a sweet machine...
This is The best M5.
İn fact, this is one of the best car bmw ever produced.
Great review of a great car, but man, that music! What the hell were we thinking in 2000?
BOODADOODLEADADOODLEOODLEOODLEOODLE.....what's not to get? lol
This together with e38 is the very last BMW glory age vehicle. The last ultimate driving machine the world would see.
Wrong, E65 and E66 were bad ass with bad reliability to boot
Although I'm an Audi guy through and through, I totally agree. The E39 is by far the best what BMW has built. I owned an E39 535i and even that one was exceptionally good.
That was also a v8?
@@eustahijelifetips Yes
@@GERntleMAN always thought it was a big l6, like in the first 7 series or 335i, oh well, audi also has "small" displacement v8s too
@@eustahijelifetips No, the last 3,5L I6 was in the E34 and E28. After that only 3,0L I6 no matter the name. The 3,5L V8 was also used in the E38. The E34 had the 540 which actually was a 4,0L V8 which became the future 540 with 4,4L but the same hp output.
The 3,6L V8 from the Audi V8 had a little more power than the 3,5L BMW and the 3,7L Audi engine topped out at 250PS
Glad you guys at motorweek don't use sound effect background music like that anymore.....?
best sport sedan now. May be even forever...
you coulnd't have said it better
Best BMW Ever made, I sure do miss my M5
Holy fuck they set the music loud in the mix. Awesome looking Beemer, probably the best mix of classy and sporty in the lineup
The new M cars don’t seem like such a bad deal when you realize this was $106,000 in today’s money
God I love that music; it goes so well
next time i throw a house party, i'm just going to throw on this video. chicks dig it.
Used to see so many of these in my neighbourhood. Not all M5 but I remember thinking they were a perfect size. The one after this just looked too big. This one was tight.
And yet still the best looking sedan ever. Period.
I have a 5 series E39 (not M5 unfortunately, but a 2 liter 520 I6 Euro Version) and when I am thinking of selling it because of the high fuel prices in my country, when I am riding I am changing my mind. I have this car since 2006, bought it as a used vehicle and I enjoy riding, either in short or long distance trips!!!It runs smoothly even after 220000 kilometers (136.000 miles more or less)
The chassis in this series was one of the best back in its day. This series also is still very cool in terms of its shape. Looks modern even with todays standards.
My friend used to own one of those and sometimes I used to drive it for me personally one of the best cars ever made still a benchmark sedan for today's standards 13 .2 on a quarter mile!!!! 10 out of 10
What a great time for BMW. The E38, E39 and E46 were all being sold simultaneously and BMW peaked.
The most beautiful BMW
Beautiful Classic!
This generation BMW M5 will always be my favorite, especially since it only offers a proper 6-speed manual!
Best BMW Ever Made👑
Amazing the tech in this powertrain 18 years ago. Now the Ford Coyote is making around the same hp numbers and the Coyote numbers are quite respectable for today
One of my favorite cars ever
Mine too.
F10 M5: *Am I A Joke To You?*
5:25 you guessed it right man
Such timeless design.
E39... Great car.....Worst cupholders in the history of automotive.
Yup, had a 2000 528i and the ONLY fault it ever had was the cupholder broke when a friend spilled coffee in it. Just weird. Insane car, and that was with only 193 hp
Agree here. Had a '98 528i and the cupholders were the worst thing at the whole car. Ridiculous shaky and bad made.
I'm a big fan of practicality. This car was it. You can cruise with 4 other people, just enough cargo space, and just enough power to have lots of fun.
I think it was Josh Kalis or Danny Way that was on the DC shoes team that drove this model M5 during the Cannonball Rally back in the early 00s.
This car looks gorgeous even today....
The last, best, true BMW
Only Transmission offered is a 6 speed manual.....Ahh the good ol days where enthusiasts were...............
Enthusiasts.
Best supercar sedan ever!
They don't know how to launch this car. 13.6@107.....I ran a 12.99@108 fully stock in mine.
Can you show us the timeslip?
Best m car. He’s so right when he said forever. Stood the test of time.
That almost 100k in today’s money
Truly, E39 is the most beautiful car ever designed, still now its line is holding up its superiority
Great video!
Please 2003 Audi rs 6 retro video!!!! Please mr! Davis.
love the hip background music!
These ran for about the same as an S-Class back in 2000. Now, modern F10s are even more expensive.
Jesus if only I’d been smart enough to have picked one of these up before the prices began to rise quickly. E39s are amazing vehicles and that V8 is one of a kind but the prices are really going up.
It's crazy how the closing line says it's possibly the best car, ever. Now, 17years later you hear that argument still. It's like BMW's peak with the E39 and E46 is unreachable again and all new generations are just pulling away from the sweet spot.
That music gots me fist pumping in the air lmao
Lmao the fucking music mix has John’s voice track crackling
That music! So 2000. And I still want one of these cars so bad! But please post some other reviews besides BMW. Or just post them all like bajabusta used to do!
I LOVE this series, it's fun looking back at the reviews of when these cars were new.
But, Motorweek, please stop with the BMW's for a while! I am so BMW'd out it's not even funny.
I like BMW's but all these BMW reviews at the same time is just too much.
+Jessey Jordan If you are "so BMW'd out" as you put it, then why did you click on this vid? Nobody forced you did they, you just seem lost.
This was posted a year a go. At a time when Motorweek went nearly a full month of posting only BMW reviews. I love BMW, but at the time I was very much bored with just the BMW videos. I was giving them my feed back at the time because I didn't want to get bored with the channel. Just my fair and honest opinion.
As a guy commenting on a post made nearly a year ago, at a time when you clearly weren't around to appreciate how repetitive the content was, you seem to be the one lost.
Epic response
please upload one of the E38 7 series! couldn't find one anywhere
Very good car, still today, and still better than newer m5s
I always loved this car because of the game need for speed 2